Variety (May 1957)

UECITIMATE 57 Vtdn<iday» May 22, 1957 P'SrIETy 4-10 B’way Shows lo Span Summer, Despite Prospects of Potent Biz A minimum of four shows are figured sure to continue through the-summer on Broadway, with six others doped to have a good chance and six others doubtful. That’s the skimpiest hot-weather prospect- for New York legit, in many years. Ironically, various commercial observers predict that business in general in New York is likely to be better than for several -years. That’s on the basis of advance in¬ dications of visiting buyers, tour¬ ists plahning to visit the city or pass through-'en route to and from Europe, the number, of scheduled sales meetings 1 ' and conventions, and incrfeased national reaction to the New York * Summer Festival promotion. The. likelihood of a lean sum¬ mer on Broadway despite bullish- general business conditions in New York appears to reflect the dearth of strong shows, in contrast to re¬ cent 'seasons. It also means, pre¬ sumably, that the solid boxoffice hits will' get turnaway trade, with /the weaker entries already being affected by dwindling attendance. The four sure-thing bets to span the summer are all musicals. They are “My Fair Lady,” “Bells Are Ringing,” “Li’l Abner” and “New Girl in Town” (the latter opened last night to**a hefty advance Sale apd figured to get through the Ju ne-J lily-August period on its initial momentum alone). The 'six. probable run-through entries are rated as “Most Happy Fella,” “Visit to a Small Planet,” “Happy Hunting,” “Tunnel of Love,” .“Hole irt the Head” and “Hotel' Paradiso.” The outside-chance candidates are “Separate Tables,” “Happiest Millionaire” (slated to tour next season with Walter Pidgeon con¬ tinuing as star) and “Inherit the Wind” (all due for star replace¬ ments or substitutions), as . well as “Damn Yankees,” “Moon for the Misbegotten” and “Ziegfeld Fol¬ lies/' - Two other shows playing to •mash. business but due for sum¬ mer layoffs are “Auntie Marne” and “Long Day’s Journey Into Night.” In addition, four closings Will tour next fall. They are “Mid¬ dle, of the Night,” “Diary of Anne Frank,” “No Time for Sergeants” and “Major Barbara.” ‘Fella’ Most Happy Tide . For Promotion Tieups And Newspaper Captions The title “Most Happy Fella” is proving fo be a good exploitation for the Broadway musical. The tag has -bfecofhe.* national merchandis- 4 -■-;- Seek Thorodike-Casson To Tour Canada in ’58 Sybil Thorndike and her hus¬ band, "Lewis Casson, are being sought to tour Canada during 1958 under auspices of the Canadian Players. The British' husband and wife team are currently appearing in “The Potting Shed,” at the John Golden Theatre, N.Y. The couple will return to Eng¬ land,, and their future commit¬ ments include a tour of Australia. Incidentally, their daughter, Ann Casson, and her husband, Douglas Campbell, are members of the Canadian players. Will Farm Out ‘Mame’for Road “Auntie Mame” producers Rob¬ ert Fryer A Lawrence Carr will bring in an outside management for the road edition of. the Rosa¬ lind Russell starrer. The touring version of the steady Broadway sellout will be financed as .an in¬ dependent venture, with Fryer A Carr holding co-producer status and the original New York produc¬ tion getting a royalty, plus a share of the profits. They had a some¬ what similar arrangement on the recent tour of Shirley Booth in “Desk Set.” , , Several bids for the Jetome Lawrence-Robert' E. Lee adapta¬ tion of Patrick Dennis’ novel of the. same title are being weighed by the producing team. Their de¬ cision will hinge not only on: the' best financial deal offered, but also on approval of a star for the title role. The road setup will be simi¬ lar to that employed by Maurice Evans & George Schaefer in farm¬ ing out the touring rights to “Tea¬ house of the August Moon” to Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse a few seasons ago. v In the case of “Teahouse,” the Broadway production got a royalty equal to 5% of the .gross, plus 25% of the profits. That applied to both touring editions sent, out by Lind¬ say & Crouse. Meanwhile, Fryer & Carr are dickering with film actress Greer Garson to take over as star of the Broadway edition of “Mame” when Miss Russell’s . contract expires next January. It would be the Broadway / debut of Miss Garson, who appeared in * number of plays in London before going to Holly¬ wood. ing slogan and has also been get¬ ting widespread newspaper play in captions referring to various per¬ sonalities .’ ‘ More than 213 department stores have used the tuner title for men’s wear promotions, while the entire chain of 86 Allied Stores is making “The Most Happy Fella” the theme of its Father’s Day sales. The General Cigar Co. has also made the shoW an Important part of its tv spot commercial campaign for White Owl cigars, with members of the cast singing about “The Most Happy Panatela.” • Schenley Distillers ran ,ads last month with the full “Fella” tag used to describe bartenders in line with National Tavern Month. Other title tieups are with the Lancaster (Pa.) Pipe Co., which claims that “A Most Happy Fella” is one who has a Submersible Pump. Another angle involves the Beaulieu Vine¬ yards of Napa County, Cal., which has called its Beaurose wine, “The Most* Happy Wine,” besides tag¬ ging a vineyard, “The Most Happy Vineyard.” , There’s also a “Most Happy Shoe Polish,” a “Most Happy Cocktail” and a “Most Happy Chow Mein,” as well as the legit musical’s not exactly sad pressagent, Arthur Cantor. * Nat Stevens and Andrew J. Brea- lin will get open June 24 for their second season as operators of the Lakewood Theatre, Bamesville, Pa., with Ruth Chatterton and Arthur Treacher in a package of “The Reluctant. Debutante.” YEN EVA MARIE SAINT AS‘REMEMBERED’STAR Eva Marie Saint is being sought by the Playwrights Co. for its schudeled production of “Time Remembered!” She would be starred In the role for which Susan Strasberg was originally set. The play, a romantic, melancholy comedy, was adapted by Patricia Moyes from Jean AnOuilh’s Pari¬ sian success, “Leocadia.” It was done. In-London in 1954-55, first at the Lyric, in suburban Hammer¬ smith and then transferred to the New. The cast included Paul Scho¬ field, Margaret Rutherford and Mary Ure, the latter in the role for which Miss Saint is sought. Miss Saint is due east within the next few days for a film exploita¬ tion stint. She will be accompanied by her husband, screen director Jeffrey Hayden, who may be a possibility to stage the play. Al¬ though the actress is under con¬ tract to Metro and 20th-Fox, it’s understood-* her picture commit¬ ments could be worked out for the legit stint. Her last Broadway appearance, also her debut, was in a smsfll part in Horton Footers “Trip to Bounti¬ ful,” in 1953-54. On the strength of that performance she was voted the most promising new actress of the season in Variety’s annual poll of the New York drama critics. She subsequently made . her screen debut in “On the Waterfront,” win¬ ning an Academy Award for her supporting role performance. Lavery Doing Play On Pat. Henry, Jefferson Hollywood, May 21. Playwright-scenarist Emmet Lavery is working on a drama about the early years of Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson. He got the Idea while gathering pia- terial for th<? “Williamsburg” doc¬ umentary -film about the colonial capital of Virginia, produced by the Rockefellers. The author’s previous plays have included “Magnificent Yankee,” “First Legion” and “Gentleman from Athens.’* London Slumps Despite End of Admissions Tax * . London, May 21. Since the admissions tax on the legit theatre ended May 5, West End theatres have had' an unexr pected boxoffice slump. Plays due to close after short runs are “Th<? Glass Cage,” at the Piccadilly Theatre; “The Iron Duchess,” at the Cambridge, “A Hatful of Rain,” at the Princess, and “Sub¬ way in the Sky,” at the 1 Savoy. All fold next Saturday (25). The Tennessee Williams’ play “Camino. Real,” which has been doing moderate business - at the Phoenix, is to close June 1, after 63' performances. Last week the theatre management decided to continue the show’s run a while longer, but shortly afterwards re¬ vised plans and announced the closing date. The current downtrend of legit business Is estimated to mean a loss of about $280,000 on the sea¬ son. Peter Cadbury, head of the Keith Prowse ticket agency, says that business is about' 25% below the same period last year. One theory Is that the public expected a price reduction on seats when the admission fax was abol¬ ished. The only theatre so far to make any move in this direction is the Princes, where two admission prices have been cut by 30c and 10c. But “A Hatful of Rain,” cur¬ rently playing there, is among those scheduled to shutter next Saturday. ‘HEARTS’LOST $67,830 OF $70,000 BANKROLL “Double in Hearts,” which had a Seven-performance Broadway run earlier this season, represented a $67,830 loss on a $70,000 invest¬ ment. 1 T?fie production cost on the Barnard Straus-Raul Vroom-Adna Karns presentation was $42,388, plus $13,188 loss on a two-week out-of-town tryout and $4,127 addi¬ tional deficit on the brief New York stand. ’ Post-closing expenses on %the Paul Nathan comedy tallied $8,091 and included the following items for the week following the closing: company and general manager sal¬ aries, $350; crew, $174; guarantee to feature actress Neva Patterson, $750; theatre rental in lieu of min¬ imum $4,250 guarantee, $2,871, imd office allowance, $250. . Another $2,881 post-closing cost represented the unearned balance on a $3,700 advance to author Nathan. ‘Darling’ Fast Folderoo In San Francisco Bow San Francisco, May 21. “Darling I’m Yours,” which opened at the Curran Theatre here May 6,' turned out to be one of the biggest fiascos to hit the Coast in years. The Fred and Elaine Shev- in comedy closed abruptly last week,, with the whereabouts of pro¬ ducer Mark A. Carabel unknown. The cast returned to Los Angeles over the weekend and were paid ! off by way of the bond, posted with Actors Equity. The rights to the show, which grossed around $5,000 for the one week it actually operated at the Curran, were acquired by Carabel from producers Jack Present and Harry Zevln. Gene Nelson* Lisa Gaye and Philip Reed costarred in the presentation. Produce) s Expect Break’ in Talks; Equity Annual Meeting Friday (24) —“—---— f A subsantial “break” in the ne- LI. Banks Will Be B.0.s For Jones Beach ‘Boat’ A chain of banks in Nassau and Suffolk counties, Long Island, will double as legit boxoffices this sum¬ mer. It’s an expansion of a pro- I motion inaugurated last year by I the Meadow Brook National Bank | of Nassau County as a tie-in with Guy Lombardo's production of “Show Boat” at the Jones Beach (L. I.) Marine Theatre. This summer, the Security Na¬ tional Bank of Huntington in Suf¬ folk County is joining Meadow Brook in plugging the Lombardo presentation, which reopens June 27 at Jones Beach. The two banks will have a total of 43 offices han¬ dling special mail order forms for the al fresco musical production. In addition, personal bdx office reps will be on hand at five Mead¬ ow Brook offices and three Secur¬ ity offices. Both banks have also purchased large blocks of “Show Boat” seats, which they’re using as premiums for persons opening new checking accounts. John C. Wilson Scrams Westport Westport, Conn., May 21. - John C. Wilson bowed out this weekend as one of the three pro¬ ducers of the Country Playhouse here after 16 years' association with Lawrencm Langner and Ar-. mina Marshall (Mrs. Langner). No reason was divulged for Wilson’s withdrawal although he intimated last summer that he would not be back this season. Wilson produced plays in which he was interested for Broadway production and huddled the Lang- ners on policy for this prestige summer spot. Wilson and his wife (former Prlhcess Natasha Paley of Russia) are top local hosts and. their guests ' always spiced Play¬ house openings. Record advance subscription is already reported for season open¬ ing June 15 with Faye Emerson in “Witness for‘the Prosecution.” Miss Emerson will play. 18 shows in two weeks for record number of performances in 27 year history of theatre, making up for Wednesday absence (due to television “I’ve Got a Secret”) with two Sunday shows. Philip Langner and Herbert Weinstein, co-managng directors, may fill in Wednesday dark nights with dance programs due to popu¬ larity Of last summer’s ballet offer¬ ings. Weinstein is new on West- port scene, moving down here from similar, spot in Falmouth. Otherwise'old faces fill key spots. 1 Ralph Lycett begins' 13th season directing press and subscriptions, with Don Spark as assistant; Mar¬ shall Young is. associate managing director, Lorraine Hansberry, treasurer and Marvin Reiss, de¬ signer. Avoids Censorship By Going Out to Meet It David Marshall Holtzmann, who doubles as attorney and summer theatre operator, believes that it pays to invite censorship. He voluntarily submits the production schedules of his. Cape Cod Melody Tent, Hyannis, Mass., and ! the South Shore Music Circus, Cohas- set, Mass., to the local clergy of all faiths. He’s been checking. With the ministers since both tents opened several years ago and as yet has never had to cancel any shows. Holtzmann feels that giving the clergy an advance on the projected shows helps in establishing better local relations. In addition, members of the Hy¬ annis and Cohasset companies sing In the church choirs of the re¬ spective towns. That’s understood to be a widespread practice among musical stock groups. Ira Cifcker will make his Broad¬ way directorial bow next season as stager of “The Strongest.” gotiations between Actors Equity and the League of N, Y. Theatres is expected by members of the latter* group within the next few days. It’s figured that union rep¬ resentatives,' having to report next Friday (24) to the general mem¬ bership at the annual Equity meet¬ ing, are anxious to have something tangible to present, and they are described as indicating impatience to make progress in the confabs. The negotiations for a new three-year basic contract to cover pay and working conditions for ac¬ tors on Broadway and the road are said to be still dealing with minor points in the union’s demandsv, Considerable ( progress has appar¬ ently- been made, but the major points expected to become issues have not been reached. These in¬ clude Equity’s bid for a flat $110.-a- week minimum for all actors for hoth performance and rehearsals, severe limitations on rehearsal hours and 1 the complete elimination of all “extra” players, or “supers.” At a League membership meet¬ ing Monday (20), attended by an estimated 50 producers and thea¬ tre owners, a resolution supporting the negotiating committee was unanimously passed. That was in¬ tended to refute a statement in last week’s. Variety v that in case of a final stalemate with Equity, cer¬ tain producers intend to sign in¬ dividual contracts with the union rather than have their shows closed by an actor walkout. Several prominent League mem¬ bers minimized the possibility of a breakdown in the negotiations or the chance of an actor strike. One said flatly that if such a show¬ down actually did occur he would close his show, and other pro¬ ducers would do likewise. Others privately conceded, however, that defections in the producer ranks would paobably occur if a walkout were to; impend. League representatives, pointing out that the negotiating groups had agreed in advance that there would be ( no publicity on th> confabs, charged that somebody in Equity had leaked statements to the press last week., Several of the pro¬ ducers apparently feel, however, that the no-publicity rule was a boner and that the League’s best chance of resisting what are re¬ garded as excessive Equity de¬ mands is by public opinion. F&M May Rival R&H In Music Stock Field, But Only as Producers Cy Feuer A Ernest H. Martin, who haven’t had any shows making money for them since early this year, should make , up for it this summer. Three of their hit musi¬ cals are among the first-time re¬ leases this season and all are ex¬ pected to get numerous produc¬ tions. The tuners are “Silk Stock¬ ings,” “Boy Friend’.’ and “Can- Can.” The team’s other two clicks, “Where’s Charley” and “Guys and Dolls” are already in release. With* the-five-show spread, F&M will be in almost the same class as Rodgers It Hammerstein, who <ilsa , have had no production on the boards for some time, ’.but have a steady summer goldmine in “Okla¬ homa,”. “Carousel,” “South Pacific” and “King and I/’ RAH will, also - have a first-time release this sum¬ mer in “Pipe Dream.” Their other two tuners, “Allegro” and “Me and Juliet” are previous stock releases.. There is One major difference in the relative positions of R&H and F&M in the stock royalty field,, however. In the case of the for¬ mer, they not only get the manage¬ ment’s share from the licensing fees, but collect the regular author royalty. F&M, in contrast, get only the producer slice of the stock revenue. To Raze Trenton’s Stacy Trenton, May 21. The Stacy Theatre, former legit house here, is to make way for a parking lot. It was built in 1918 as the St. Regis, but was damaged by fire in 1952 and has been con¬ demned. When the old structure i;s torn down the site will be used for a parking lot unless a new building is put up.